Mechanical stilt



United States Patent 3,058,120 MECHANICAL STlLT Glen D. Smith and NoelW. Smith, both of 4717 N. 2nd St., Abilene, Tex. Filed July 18, 1960,Ser. No. 43,529 1 Claim. (Cl. 34)

This invention relates to a mechanical stilt or pair of stilts, and hasas its primary object the provision of an improved stilt constructionwhich may be advantageously employed either as an amusement device, orin any occupation wherein an additional height is necessary ordesirable.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stiltconstruction which is wholly attached to the leg and foot of the user,thus leaving the hands free for other uses.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a stiltwhich is so designed and arranged as to give perfect balance, and which,by virtue of a pivotal connection and an elongated foot plate, givessubstantially the same effect as in walking.

A further specific object of the invention is the provision of a deviceof this character where the foot piece is arched for the purpose ofeliminating falls when stepping on loose objects such as nails, rocks,stones or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a devicewherein the straps on the foot plate may be readily adjusted to fit anytype of shoe, thus eliminating permanent mounting.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a stiltwhich is readily adjustable as to height within a predetermined range,such range being normally between 18 and 26 inches, but which may beextended in either direction as desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a devicewhich, due to the leather cushion connection, gives a substantiallynoiseless and smooth operation.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device whichis sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient inoperation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, andwhich may be used by an operator with a minimum of efiort anddifliculty.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangementsof parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fullypointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawing whereinthere is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one stilt according to theinstant invention shown as applied to the leg and foot of the user, thelatter being indicated in dotted lines, an alternative position ofadjustment in use also being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1 as viewedfrom the right.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 ofFIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view showing aconstructional element.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, the stilt of the instantinvention is generally indicated at 10, and includes a foot plate 11,which is substantially flat, and of a length to accommodate an averagesize shoe. The foot plate 11 has an arcuate upwardly extending heelflange 12, and is provided with a toe strap 13, which may be adjustablyfitted by means of a buckle 14. The plate 11 may be made of any desiredmaterial, such as wood, aluminum, or other suitable metal, and the toestrap 13 is secured to the underside thereof in any desired manner inaccordance with the material used.

A pair of spaced lugs 15 depend from the underside of plate 11 at apoint adjacent the heel, and are apertured to receive a pivot pin 16, towhich is secured a sleeve 17, having a series of perforations 18therein.

An instep strap 19 is suitably secured to the lugs 15, and extendsacross the instep of a foot F of the user, as indicated in FIG. 1. Strap19 is also provided with a buckle 20, which permits suitable adjustmentof the device to a variety of shoe sizes.

Front lugs 21 are also provided adjacent the toe of foot plate 11, andhave pivotally mounted therein as by means of a pivot 22 a secondtubular slevee 23, which is also provided with a seriesof apertures 24.Sleeves 1'7 and 23, respectively, have slidably mounted therein tubularrod members 25 and 26, respectively, which are also apertured as at 27and 28, the arrangement being such that the sleeves 25 and 26 telescopewithin the sleeves 17 and 24, and are held in suitably adjusted positionby means of cotter pins 29 and 3%, respectively, which extend throughselected aligned apertures for adjusting the height of the stilt. Eachof sleeves 25 and 26 is pivotally secured as by means of pivots 31 and32 between pairs of spaced lugs 33 and 34 at the rear and frontrespectively of a foot plate generally indicated at 35. The foot plate35 includes a flat rear portion 36 and a flat front portion 37, each ofwhich is provided with a non-slip undersole 38 and 39, respectively,which may be comprised of cork, rubber, leather, or any other desiredmaterial. The portions 36 and 37 are connected by an arcuate bridgememher do, the arrangement being such that if the foot members areplaced on a loose object, such as a stone or the like, a fall will beprecluded, as the arcuate member 40 will be able to bridge the looseobject.

Centrally secured to the underside of foot plate 11 is a depending lug45, which has atfixed thereto a tubular sleeve 46 provided with a seriesof apertures or openings 47 therein. The securing means for the sleeve46 may take any desired form such as a bolt or rivet 48. Seated in eachend of sleeve 46 is a compression spring 49 and 50, respectively, whichsprings seat in leather cups 51 and 52, respectively secured to tubularmembers 17 and 23, at a point closely adjacent the underside of footplate 11. The inner ends of the springs 49 and 50 are suitablypositioned as by means of cotter pins 53 and 54 so that the relativetension of the springs may be adjusted. The cups 51 and 52 may besuitably secured in the sleeves 17 and 23 as by means of self-tappingmetal screws 55, for example, although suitable bolts and nuts may beemployed if desired.

By virtue of this spring arrangement the stilt is automaticallyself-aligning, and will return to its initial vertical position after aforward step by the user, during the time when the foot is lifted offthe ground. The springs elfectively cushion the movement, and by virtueof the leather cups or washers a relatively smooth and noiselessoperation is effected.

Means are provided for securing the device to the leg of the user, andtake the form of a tubular post 60 which is provided with suitableapertures 61, which are adapted to be aligned with similar apertures 62in a sleeve 63 which is pivotally mounted on an extending portion ofpivot 31. Sleeve 60 is held in adjusted position relative to sleeve 63by means of a cotter pin 64, similar to the cotter pins 30 and 31. Thesleeve 60 extends outwardly at an angle so that it clears the side offoot plate 11, and extends to a portion adjacent approximately the midcalf of the user. At its upper extremity it is provided with a plate 65which is secured thereto as by means of bolts 66, the plate beingprovided with loops or the like through which extends a leg strap 67,provided with a buckle 68, by means of which the strap may be adjustedto fit the leg of the user.

From the foregoing the operation of the device should now be readilyunderstandable. When the foot is first placed on the foot plate 11 thetoe strap 13 and instep strap 19 are suitably adjusted. Leg strap 67 isthen buckled about the leg, and the device is ready for use, it beingunderstood that obviously a stilt is provided for each foot of the user.

The user then walks in a normal manner, and the pivotal arrangementformed by the pivots 16 and 22, as well as the pivots 31 and 32, permitthe user to stride forward in a normal manner, the flexing of the footportions 36 and 37 about their respective pivots conforming tosubstantially the normal movement of the foot, such movement beingeffectively cushioned by the springs 49 and 50, which return the deviceto normal position during each forward step.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved stilt which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, andothers, including many advantages of great practical utility andcommercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A mechanical stilt comprising in combination a first foot plate, saidfoot plate being generally fiat in configuration and including anupwardly extending arcuate heel flange secured to one end thereof, pairsof spaced parallel lug members secured to the underside of said firstfoot plate adjacent each end thereof, each of said pairs of said lugshaving portions defining aligned openings therein, a. generally tubularsleeve disposed between each of said spaced pairs of lugs and havingportions defining openings therein in alignment with the openings insaid pairs of lugs, a pin extending through the aligned openings in eachof said pairs of lugs and through the opening in said tubular memberspositioned therebetween to pivotally secure the tubular members to theunderside of said first foot plate, each of said tubular sleevesincluding other portions defining a plurality of spaced verticallyaligned openings in one wall thereof, a second foot plate having joinedfront and rear portions, a pair of spaced lugs extending vertically inparallel relation from said front and rear portions, portions of saidpairs of lugs defining aligned openings therein, tubular members havingportions defining aligned openings therein disposed be tween thevertically extending pairs of lugs on said front and rear portions, apivot extending through the aligned openings in each of said pair oflugs and through the openings in said tubular members to pivotallysecure the same to said front and rear portions of said second footplate, said tubular members extending vertically and being disposed intelescoping relation to the tubular sleeves pivotally secured to saidfirst foot plate, said tubular members including other portions definingspaced vertically aligned openings in one wall thereof adapted to bealigned with the spaced vertically aligned openings in the wall of thetubular sleeves, means extending through each of said tubular sleevesand through the openings in the wall of said tubular members to securethe same together whereby said first and second foot plates are invertically spaced aligned relation, means for securing the device to theleg of the user comprising a sleeve pivotally mounted on a portion ofthe pivot pin extending through the vertical lugs on the rear portion ofsaid second foot plate, said sleeve including portions defining spacedvertically aligned openings in the wall thereof, a tubular post intelescoping engagement with said sleeve and extending vertically abovesaid first foot plate, said tubular post having portions defining spacedvertically aligned openings therein adapted to be aligned with theopenings in said sleeve, bolt means extending through the alignedopenings in said sleeve and said tubular post to secure the sametogether in a desired position, the free end of said tubular postterminating adjacent the calf of the leg of a user, a plate secured tothe free end of said tubular post, and means mounted on said plate tosecure said post to the leg of the user, strap means on said first footplate to secure the toe of the user to the plate and other strap meanspivotally connected to one of said pairs of lugs secured to said footplate for securing the instep portion of the foot of the user to thefoot plate, spring means adjacent the underside of said first foot plateinterposed between said tubular members pivotally mounted thereon, saidspring meansincluding atube dependingly secured to the underside of saidfoot plate, a compression spring adjustably seated in each end of saidtube, and a cupshaped leather cushioning member secured to theconfronting side of each tubular member in alignment with each springand in which the other end of each of said springs is adapted to seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,736,902 Bass Mar. 6, 1956 2,802,217 Wilhoyte Aug. 13, 1957 2,832,079Bailey Apr. 29, 1958

